Quenching apparatus



J n 2 l9 H. w. GRONEMEYER QUENCHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Herbs rz WGronemeyer BY We ATTORNEY 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Herbert l VGm/iemeyer BY ATTORNEY H. W. GRON EM EYER QUENCHING APPARATUS F iled Aug. 9, 1940 June 24, 1941.

June 24, 1 941.

H. W. GRONEM EYER QUENCHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. Q, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Herbert Wfir'oncmeyer 73% ATTORNEY June 24,1941. w GRQNEMEYER 2,246,675

QUENGHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1940 e Sheets-Sheet 4 TTORNEY June 24, 1941- H. w. GRONEMEYER QUENCHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 AL [I y Rm Y we N .R E 0 me n M r k II a.

H. w. GRONEMEYER 2,246,675

QUENCHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet e June 24, 1941.

Patented June, 24, 1941 QUENCHING APPARATUS Herbert W. Gronemeyer, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Shefficld Steel Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Application August 9, 1940, Serial No. 351,973

31 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic quenching apparatus, and more particularly to quenching apparatus utilized in the heat treatment of steel objects, and operating in conjunction with heat ing means for such objects.

In order to improve the physical properties of and to take advantage of the inherent qualities of certain steels, and other metals, these are subjected to heat treatment before being placed in use. One common form of heat treatment is to quench a piece of steel in some liquid medium after the steel has been heated to a certain temperature. that remaining after some other operation, such as a forging operation, but for best control of the heat treatment, it is usually desirable to reheat the object that is to be treated to a certain known temperature and then to quench it, or cool it, in a body of liquid of a predetermined temperature. This heating and cooling may not constitute the entire heat treatment desired, but in practically all cases the quenching operation is of great importance in obtaining the desired physical properties and other desirable characterlstics of steels, and other metals, above referred to.

in order to obtain the desired effect of the quenching on the article that is being quenched and to get uniform results without warpage, soft spots, and severe internal stresses that result from improper quenching, it is necessary to carefully control the quenching operation. This means that not only must the temperature of the liquid medium be controlled, but the length of time that the article is subjected to the cooling effect of the liquid medium at that temperature must be controlled closely. It is immaterial what quenching medium is used, that is, whether it is water, brine, or il, it is desirable to obtain such control, and it is an important purpose of my invention to provide means for obtaining such control of the quenching',and to maintain such con trol, that uniform results are obtained on the successive articles subjected to the quenching action of my apparatus.

In order to get uniform quenching and to avoid the difficulties above referred to, it is necessary that the quench abstract heat uniformly from all parts of the piece of work that is in the quenching medium, and that no steam or vapor bubbles be allowed to blanket the work and thus slow down the abstraction of heat therefrom, and that no external object be permitted to remain in contact with the work to shield it from heat abstraction. It is accordingly desirable to keep the work Sometimes the heat in the steel is out of contact with the walls, or bottom, of the receptacle in which the quenching medium is contained, and to maintain a turbulent condition in the quenching medium to prevent any adherence of scale particles, or other foreign matter, or the continued contact of one or more of the articles that are being quenched with each other during the quenching operation. It is one of the purposes of my invention to provide an apparatus in which the work, or article, that is being quenched, is kept out of continued contact with the walls of the quenching receptacle during the quenching operation, and in which the quenching medium is kept agitated so as to prevent continued contact of one of such articles, or objects, with another thereof, it more than one is quenched at a time, and to prevent the formation of steam or vapor bubbles around the surface of the object and the accumulation of any scale thereon.

In order to obtain the desired qualities of the quench above referred to, liquid is moved upwardly through a passage into a receptacle at such a rate and in such a direction as to float the work at a substantially constant level in a body of liquid, into which said upwardly moving stream of liquid enters, so that the piece of work that is being quenched will be subjected over its entire area to the same quenching conditions, and all bubbles, or particles, that might otherwise adhere to the surface of the work, are kept from accumulating thereon. It has been found that by flaring an inlet passage of relatively restricted cross section into a funnel-like member, that constitutes the receptacle for the work that is being quenched and for the body of water or other liquid in which the quenching is done, a level is definitely established at which the work will float, as below this level the upward velocity is greater than that required for flotation, while above that level the velocity is insufficient to float the work. The taper of the funnel-like, 0r flaring wall of the receptacle, can be determined so as to get the proper level of suspension of the piece of work in the body of liquid, so that the passage through which the liquid flows upwardly into the receptacle is maintained of such size as to be somewhat larger than the pieces of work that are being quenched, whereby this passage is capable of utilization as means through which the quenched work can be discharged when the quenching operation is completed.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide quenching apparatus, in which the work is maintained in a suspended condition in a turbulent body 01 liquid. by an upward stream of liquid introduced through a passage extending into the bottom of'a funnel-like receptacle containing a body of liquid and in which discharge of the work that has been quenched will take place through this passage upon interruption of the upward flow of liquid through the passage, the apparatus being provided with means ror discharging the piece, or pieces, of work and the liquidin such a manner that the liquid is returned to a reservoir, from which it is re-circulated to quench other pieces of work, and the piece, or pieces, of work are discharged into a suitable receptacle for accumulating the same.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned character, in which one or several pieces of work will remain suspended in the funnel-like receptacle while rotating about their own axes and at the same time moving about in the funnel-like member, this being obtained by maintaining the proper liquid velocity as compared with the size of passage emptying into the funnel-like member and the taper of the funnel-like member.

It is a particular purpose of my invention to provide means for automatically controlling the operation of an apparatus of the above mentioned character, in a manner such that when each piece, or group of pieces, of work is introduced into the receptacle by gravity from above, the upward flow of quenching liquid has been started in such timed relation to the passage of pieces of work, that are to be quenched, into said receptacle, that a body of quenching liquid, having such an upwardly directed stream of quenching liquid therein for receiving the article, or articles, to be quenched, is provided, when these reach the receptacle, and the upward stream of liquid in the body of liquid in the receptacle is maintained for a predetermined period of time after each article, or piece of work, or group ocf pieces of work, enters the body of quenching liquid, to thus subject these to the quenching action for a uniform and predetermined period of time, the apparatus comprising means for haltingthe upward flow of the quenching liquid and at the same time providing a discharge passage out of the apparatus, so that the quenching liquid, as well as the piece, or pieces, or work, will be discharged by gravity therefrom and the quenching liquid and said articles separated as above referred to.

The above mentioned automatically controlled apparatus may be set in operation for each period, by means of the heated pieces of work as the same are discharged from the heating apparatus and advanced toward the quenching apparatus, preferably, by gravity, or by means operating in synchronism with re-heating means for said pieces of work and controlled by the passage ocf said pieces of work through said re-heating means, to operate in timed relation to the discharge of a predetermined number of said pieces of work from said re-heating means. Said apparatus further comprises time controlled means, set into operation by the said work or by the means operating in synchronism with the re-heating means, to halt the flow of liquid a predetermined period of time after it is started, this being determined for the particular work and the particular heat of steel that is being heat treated, and the apparatus being adjustable so that the time controlled means can be regulated to obtain the desired time interval of automatic subjection of the pieces of work to the quenching that is desired.

The embodiment of the invention at present preferred comprises re-heating means, including a heating chamber through which the objects that are to be heat treated are passed by conveying means at a predetermined rate, and quenching means into which the objects that are heated in the re-heating means are discharged at intervals in groups, where the same are subjected 'to a quenching action for a definite period of time and then discharged by gravity, and the quenched objects and the quenching liquid separated in a manner such as above referred to. It is a particular purpose of my invention to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned general character, in which the means for controlling the feeding of the heated objects into the quenching receptacle is controlled by means operating in synchronism with the conveying means for carrying said objects through the heating chamber, and in which the flow of quenching liquid into the receptacle to create the body of quenching liquid in which there is an upwardly flowing stream of quenching liquid begins in predetermined timed relation to the discharge of the group of objects, the means for controlling the starting of the flow of quenching liquid into the receptacle being operated in synchronism with said conveying means and being actuated thereby, and the means for terminating the flow of quenching liquid and the discharge of the quenching liquid and the objects that are being quenched from the quenching receptacle is also controlled by means operating in synchronism with the conveying means for carrying the objects through the heating chamber.

Furthermore it is an object of my invention to provide means for adjusting the means for releasing the objects that have been heated for gravity discharge into the quenching receptacle, so as to adjust the time for such discharge, and to also provide means for adjusting said means for initiating and for ending the quenching operation, so that the time for starting the flow of quenching liquid into the quenching receptacle and the time for discharging the quenching liquid and the quenched objects from the quenching receptacle can be adjusted relative to each other and relative to the discharge of the objects that have been heated, into the quenching receptacle.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the drawings proceeds. I desire to have it understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the particular details shown or described, except as defined in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of my improved heat treating apparatus, comprising re-heating and quenching means.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the same being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the controlling means for the quenching apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 01! Fig. 3, showing the controlling means in the position it assumes when the valve admitting the liquid to the quenching receptacle has just been completely opened.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the controlling means in a position just after the movement stopping the supply of liquid to the receptacle has been completed.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly broken aw y. of the means for controlling the release of balls that have been re-heated, and:

of adjoining parts.

Fig. '1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6, partly broken away.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, of the operating means for opening and closing the movable valve, or gate member, controlling the supply of quenching liquid to thequenching receptacle and the discharge of quenched objects therefrom.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a feeding means for supplying objects to be quenched to the re-heating device.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line llll of Fig. '1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the line ll-il of Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the discharge end of the re-heating means and of the quenching means, showing a modified form of I controlling means therefor. i

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line |3-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, of the, conveyor driven controlling element shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a view partly in section and partly in end elevation thereof.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the line l6l6 of Fig. 15, partly broken away.

Fig. 17 is a section taken on the line "-11 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a view partly in elevation, partly in section and partly diagrammatic, of a further modified form ofquenching apparatus.

Fig. 19 is a view partly diagrammatic and partly in elevation of the modified form of quenching apparatus shownin Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the lower portion of the quenching device used in my apparatus.

Fig. 21 is a sectional view through one form of air control valve.

Fig. 22 is a section taken on the line 22--22 of Fig. 21, and

Fig. 23 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of said valve as viewed from the left of Fig. 21, with the cover removed.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my improved heat treating apparatus is shown as being particularly adapted for quenching balls, such as grinding balls, that are to be heat treated. Said apparatus is shown as being provided with a suitable framework 2|, and on said framework is mounted a bin 22, which is adjustably secured to the framework 21 in any suitable manner, as by means of the adjustable clamping means 23. The bin 22 is provided with an inclined bottom 24, made up of a plurality of beams mounted on the channels 25 forming part of the walls of said bin. The bottom 24 is inclined downwardly toward the heat treating apparatus, balls being adapted to be fed into the V- shaped trough-like members 21 inclining down-' wardly from the lower edge of the inclined bottom 24 to elevating means provided for the ob- ,iects that are to be heat treated, to carry the same out of the trough-like members 25 into position to be fed into the re-heating chamber, said elevating means being mounted between vertical inclined partition members 28, that extend upwardly from the sides of the trough-like members 25. Side walls 26 are provided extending from the bin 22 and connected with the outermost inclined partition members 28.

Each of the elevator members comprises a lower sprocket 29 and an upper sprocket, over which the sprocket chain 31 operates, which has lugs, or projections, 32 thereon that act as pusher members to carry the balls 33, or similar objects, upwardly between the partitions 28 as the chain 31 travels over the sprockets 29 and 30, which rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Any suitable means for driving the sprockets may be provided, such as the motor 34 mounted on a platform 35 on the framework 21, said motor driving the small sprocket 35 through. a speed reducer 39, saidsprocket 36 driving a larger sprocket 40 through the sprocket chain 41, and said sprocket 40 being fixed to the shaft 42 to rotate therewith, said shaft 42 also having all of the sprockets 30 fixed thereto to rotate therewith. A bottom plate 31 is provided under the sprocket chains extending between the side walls 26 to support said chain and balls.

As the balls 33 reach the upper end of the upper inclined run of the conveyor chain 31, each ball is delivered to an upwardly convexly curved guideway 43, which extends between each of the partition members 28, the same being mounted at its upper end on a cross frame member 44 and terminating in a substantially horizontal portion 45, which is provided with a cover plate 45 extending over all of the runways thus provided. A hinged member 41, divided into a plurality of runways by the vertically extending partitions, or flanges, 48, is provided, extending downwardly from the upper end of the runway 43 and is mounted onthe transverse frame member 44, said transverse frame member being a part of the frame 49 for the elevating mechanism described.

In Fig. 9 is shown an enlarged sectional view, showing the lower end portion of the hinged member 41, a rod-like member 50 being shown as being secured pivotally to an ear 5!, on one of the flanges, or vertically extending partitions, 48, for adjusting the position of the inclined chute 41, said rod-like member 50 extending through a sleeve-like member 52 on the door 53 and through a flange on a bracket member 54, said rod-like member 50 being adapted to be raised or lowered as may be found desirable, and clamped in position by means of a set screw 55 cooperating with the sleeve-like member 52. As illustrated, one of the smaller sizes of balls is shown as being in position in the elevating and feeding means being described. However, the guideways and the elevating means are made to accommodate balls of larger sizes, as will be obvious.

The lower end portions of the guideways formed by the pivotally mounted inclined chute 41, in cooperation with the vertical partitions, or flanges, 48 are provided with feeding means for feeding one ball 33 at a time, to conveying means for carrying lines, or rows, of said balls through the re-heating furnace at a uniform rate. It is, of course, to be understood that the conveying means can be adjusted to vary the speed of the balls, or other objects, to be heat treated. through the re-heating furnace, but that carried through the re-heating furnace at a uniform rate of speed throughout the length of the furnace, and each ball is given the same'length of treatment and the same temperature conditions in its travel through the furnace as every other ball. The feeding means for each guidev way comprises a stop finger 56 and a stop finger 51, Said stop fingers are pivotally connected at opposite ends to a bar, or link, 58, which is provided with a bracket portion 59 having a roller 60 thereon. The link 58 is pivoted to the ear 6| depending from the member 41 at 62, there being, of course, a bracket 6| for each guideway, or runway, and a pivot 62 for each of the links 58.

The means for carrying the objects to be heat treated through the furnace comprises a plurality of conveyor chains, each of which is made up of links 63 and 64, which are pivotally connected together, the links 64 being substantially triangular, but having rounded top ends 65. The rollers 69 engage the inclined surfaces of such triangular links 65, the conveyor traveling in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 9, and as the roller 60 rides along on the inclined surface 66 of one of said links 65, the link 58 is swung on its pivot to cause the finger 51 to be projected upwardly through the guide member 61, depending from the runway 41, and at the same time the finger 56 is withdrawn downwardly into the guideway 68. As a result, the lowermost ball 33 on the inclined runway will be released by the finger 56 and will engage the finger 51 on said runway to a position moving downwardly between said fingers. As the roller 60 passes over the rounded top portion 65 of the triangular link 64 and down the other inclined face 69 thereof, the spring 38 holding the roller 68 in engagement therewith, the fingers will re-assume the position shown in Fig. 9 and one of the balls 33 that has passed the finger 56 will be released by the finger 51 and will pass through the opening 10 provided at the bottom of each runway for discharge of the ball, an end wall 1| being provided to prevent the ball 33 from passing beyond the point desired for engagement with the conveyor member. When the roller 68 is traveling down the inclined surface 69, two of said triangular links 64 will be in such position that the ball 33 will, by gravity, drop into position between the rounded top portion 65 of such triangular links and will position itself between an inclined surface 66 and an inclined surface 69 of two adjacent triangular links over a pair of links 63 into engagement with guides, to be described below, and be ready to be carried into the re-heating chamber. Thus, as long as there are balls 33 in the various guideways in the feeding device having the inclined surface 41, a ball 33 will be placed between each pair of triangular links 64, or above each pair of links 63. As it is desired to drop the ball 33 only a short distance onto the guideway extending into the heating chamber and to locate the feeding device so that it will not interfere with the passage of the balls past the same as these are fed toward the re-heating chamber, the adjustment by means of the rod-like member 50 is provided to raise the inclined member 41 at its lower end when larger balls are fed over the same.

The re-heating furnace, or chamber, is heated in any desired or preferred manner, the heating means not being shown, as any suitable means for heating the same may be provided, it being, of course, understood that suitable controlling means can be provided for heating the interior of the chamber to any desired temperature, said re-heating chamber being indicated generally by the numeral 12, it being obvious that this reheating chamber ls of considerable length compared with its width, a large portion thereof being broken away, as shown in Figs. land 2, in order to make it possible to show the important features of the entire apparatus on the drawings without providing too small a scale therefor. Within said re-heating chamber 12 are transverse supports 13 for frame members 14, to which guide bars 15 are secured in any desired manner. Said guide bars 15 are provided with vertical and horizontal flanges, to thus provide a series of runways through the chamber 12, that have slots midway thereof, in which the conveyor chains, made up of the links 63 and 64, operate, the links 63 operating below the level of the horizontal flanges on the guide members and the triangular links 64 projecting upwardly beyond said horizontal flanges between said vertical flanges, to carry the grinding balls, or other objects, that are to be heat treated, along in spaced relation between the guides thus provided.

It is, of course, to be understood that the conveyor chain, the guide bars and the furnace as a whole, are much longer than indicated in the drawings, as only the end portions thereof are shown, and there are, of course, many more of the transverse supports 13 than shown in the drawings. At the entrance end of the re-heating furnace below the feeding device, above described, is a pit, or chamber, 16, said chamber having a sprocket drum 11 mounted therein, over which the sprocket chains, made up of the links 63 and 64, operate, said sprocket drum being mounted on a hollow shaft 18, which has solid extensions 18' mounted in the bearings 19, each mounted on a cross member 88 supported by the framework of the machine. The sprocket chains also operate over a sprocket drum 8|, fixed on the hollow shaft 82 to rotate therewith, and having sprocket teeth 81. Said shaft 82 has solid extensions 82' mounted in the bearings 83 on the transverse members 84, provided on the frame, and is driven by the motor 85, mounted on the platform 35, through the'speed reducer 88 and sprocket 89, over which a sprocket chain 98 operates, also operating over a sprocket wheel 9|, which is mounted on a shaft 92. Said shaft 92 also has the sprocket wheel 9| fixed thereon. to rotate therewith, and also has fixed thereon to rotate therewith the pinion 93, a bearing 94 being provided for the shaft 92 on a horizontal member 84 on the framework of the machine. Said pinion 93 meshes with large gear 95, which is fixed on the shaft portion 82'. It will thus be seen that the shaft 82 rotates at a much slower speed than the shaft 92, and that the shaft 92 rotates at a much slower speed than the motor 85, and that the sprocket drum 8! rotates at a uniform slow speed through the driving mechanism described.

The chamber, or pit, 16 is provided with a cover plate 96 that closes the same except where the sprocket chain projects therethrough. It will be noted that the guide rails, or bars, 15 extend outwardly beyond the re-heating chamber 12 under the discharge end of the feeding device having the feeding members 56 and 51, so that the balls will be discharged onto thefiails 15 between a pair thereof, and between a pair of the triangular links 64 of the sprocket chain, said links serving to roll the balls along on the runways, or guides, provided by means of the bars,

or rails, 15, the direction of travel oi the conveyor being indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 o! the drawings. The door 99 is hinged on supporting at its lower end directly into a quenching device,

indicated generally by the numeral II4.

rods 91, depending from the bracket 84, and a door 98 is hinged to the door 53, both doors being, of course, provided with a refractory lining, and the door 98 being adapted to swing inwardly, should a ball engage therewith as it travels along with one of the conveyor chains. Also it will be obvious that the doors I3 and "can be raised as a unit to adjust the position of the door 98 by adjustment of the rod-like members 91 relative to the bracket 54, so as to provide an opening sufliclent to let the balls pass into the furnace without engaging the door 90, but an opening no larger than is necessary for that purpose.

Adjacent the discharge end of the re-heating chamber the flanged guide bars I are provided with downwardly inclined portions 99, which lead to ball collecting receptacles I00. Said receptacles I00 are formed by means-of a concavo-convex end wall IOI, that extends transversely of the path of travel of the conveyor chains and beyond the end of the same, spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom ends of the inclined portions 99 of the guide bars 15. Vertical walls I02 are provided, extending in substantial alignment with the flanges on the guide bars I to thus provide means dividing the space between the member IM and the inclined guide 99 into the ball collecting receptacles I00.

The bottoms of the chambers, or receptacles, I00 are made in the form of trap door members I03, which are pivoted to ears I04 provided on the bottom ends of the inclined portions 99 of the guide bars. An operating rod I05 is pivoted to an ear I06 on each of the trap door members I03, which are in turn swingable about the pivots I0I on the ears I04. The rods I05 are movable to two alternative positions, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 6, for example, the means for-operating said rods to move between the two alternative positions in a predetermined timed manner being described below.

The trap doors I03 thus serve as means for controlling the timed discharge of the heated elements that are to be quenched, such as the balls 33, from the heating chamber. The discharge controlling means is mounted on a transverse supporting member I08, which is provided with a channel-shaped member I09, from which the partitions, or vertical walls, I02 extend, a transverse vertical wall IIO being also provided, which supports the forward end of the inclined portion 99 of each guide member I5, and also forms the partition between the discharge means and the portion of the heating chamber conta ning the conveying mechanism. A plurality of downwardly inclined chutes III are provided, for receiving the balls, or similar elements, 33, discharged when the trap doors I03 drop to the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 6. Said chutes decrease in width in a downward direction and have side walls III that converge toward the lower ends of said chutes, said chutes extending out through the forward transverse wall II3 of the reheating furnace. There is one chute III f r eachthree ball collecting receptacles I00 and there is a single trap door I03 or each group of such receptacles i00 associated with each chute III. Thus, with the arrangement shown, there will be three elements that are to be quenched discharged down each chute III and each of the chutes III discharges It will be noted that the sprocket teeth 91, with which the conveyor chains having the links 63 and engage, are arranged out of line with each other transversely along the sprocket drum having these teeth thereon. The chains are arranged in four sets of three parallel chains in the four shown, and while the links of each set or group of conveyor chains are in transverse alignment and the teeth '01 over which each such set of chains operates are in transverse alignment, each set of such teeth made up of three circumferential rows is spaced circumferentially around the drum from the corresponding teeth of the rows of teeth. comprising the set next adjacent thereto one-fourth of the distance between the teeth that are arranged in one row circumferentially of the drum. As a result, a ball, or other element to be heat treated, 33, is discharged first from the three run- 1 ways with which the conveyor chains adjacent one side of the device cooperate, and then successively at regularly spaced intervals in groups of three from each of the sets of three runways in succession across the width of the heating chamber until the last three conveyor members on the opposite sides of the apparatus from that from which the balls, or other elements, that were heated, were first discharged, whereupon the operation is repeated. The means for controlling the timed operation of the operating rods I05 in synchronism with the operation of the conveyor chains is operated by mechanism that will be described below, in a, manner such that after a set of three balls have been discharged into the three receptacles I00, associated with one trap door I03 and one chute I II, the rod-like member I05 will be moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the three balls that will then be in position thereon will be discharged into the chute and into the quenching device II4 associated with said chute, then the next succeeding three receptacles will be similarly discharged, and so on, the trap door I03 returning to holding position a sufilciently long time before the next ball is discharged from each of the conveyors associated therewith, onto the same, that it will be in position to prevent passage of these balls down the chute I I I prematurely.

The means for controlling the operation of the trap doors !03 is driven by the shaft 92, which, as has been previously pointed out, is geared to the shaft driving the conveyor chains that carry the balls, or other objects, that are being heated, through the heating chamber. The speed reducers 30 and 00 are, preferably, adjustable so that the speed of the conveyors driven from the motors 34 and can be varied so that the grinding balls, or other objects that are to be heat treated, may be passed through the heating chamber 12 at a desired speed to get the proper heating thereof, as it may be desirable to vary the length of time the balls are subjected to a certain temperature, as. well as the temperature to which the same are subjected. The discharging means comprising the trap doors Wt will, however. operate in synchronism with the passing of the elements that have been heated from the guides I5, no matter how this speed may be varied, because of the fact that the rate of rotation of the shaft 92 will always have a definite proportion to the rate of travel of the conveyor chains.

One formof operating means for the lifting rods I for the trap doors I03 is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, 6, 7, and 11. Referring to Figs. 7 and 10 it will be noted that on the shaft 92 are mounted disk-like members II 5, which have hub portions H6 that are fixed on the shaft 92 to rotate therewith. Surrounding each hub H6 is a collarII1, which has an arm H8 projecting therefrom. Each of the disks H5 is provided with a slot H9 and a bolt and nut I20 is provided, a bolt extending through an opening in each arm H8 and through the slot H9, so that said arm H8 can be adjusted to various positions relative to the disk-like member H5, dependent upon the length of the slot H9, and clamped in such adjusted position by means of the bolt and nut I20, or other similar clamping means. It is, of course, to be understood that the disks H5 are so arranged on the shaft 92 and fixed thereto in such a manner that (the slots H9, provided in said disks H5, will be each located about a quadrant around the shaft 92 from the slot in the next adjacent disk H5. Thus the arms H8 are spaced substantially a quadrant from each other around the shaft 92 at all times, although some variations from this spacing can, of course, be obtained by adjustment of these arms, due to the provision of the slots H9 and the clamping elements I20. The adjustment is provided so that these arms H8 will reach trap door tripping position at the precise moment desired, it being found necessary in view of possible mechanical variation of parts, to provide for thisadjustment, so that the trap doors will release the elements 33, to be heat treated, at exactly the proper moment, so that there will always be the proper number discharged, and so that these will be discharged at the proper time relative to the operation of the quenching means, which will be described below. I

The tripping mechanism further comprises fingers I2I, which are pivoted on a shaft I22 mounted in suitable bearings I23, and said fingers have pivoted thereto at I24 the pull rods I25, said fingers I2I being normally held in a raised position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 10, by means of tension springs I26. Each of the rods I25 is connected with a crank member mounted on a shaft, and in order to make the operation of the device clearer, each of these crank members is given 'a separate reference numeral, as are each of said shafts, the shafts being numbered I3I, I32, I33 and I34, and the crank members fixed .to said crank shafts I3I, I32, I33 and I34 being numbered I4I, I42, I43 and I 44, respectively.

Suitable bearing brackets I21 are provided for the various crank shafts at spaced intervals. Also each of the shafts is provided with a lever I28, fixed thereto, upon which a counterweight I29 is adjustably mounted, which counterweights hold the trap doors I03 normally in a raised position and return the same to the full line position shown in Fig. 6, after a discharging movement thereof has taken place. Each rod I 05 is pivoted to a crank, that is also fixed on the shaft, by means of which the respective rod I05 is operated. Thus the shaft I3I has the crank I35 thereon; the shaft I 32 the crank I36; the shaft I33 the crank I31, and the shaft I34 the crank I38, the crank I38 thus operating in synchronism with the crank I44 as the crank I44 is moved in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10, to depress [the rod I 05 associated with the crank I38 and operate the trap door I03 associated with the chute III, that is uppermost as viewed in Fig. 1, and the other crank members operating the respective trap doors in a similar manner. As the shaft 82 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, and a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10, the shaft 92 rotates in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 10, and the arms H8, of course, move in a direction to successively press down the fingers I2I, associated with the various crank shafts, in the manner above described, the arrangemen-t being such that the trap door associated with the crank I35 will be first released to discharge the objects 33 to be quenched, that are held thereby, into the chute II I, followed by the trap door associated with the crank I36, then the trap door associated with the crank I31, and finally the trap door associated with the crank I38, whereupon the succession of operations is repeated.

A shaft I39 is mounted parallel to the shaft 92 on the platform 35 and is driven from the shaft 92 through the gears I45 and I46, the shaft I39 thus rotating in :the opposite direction to the shaft 92. On the shaft 92 a disk I 41 is mounted, the hub portion I48 thereof being fixed on said shaft to rotate therewith. A similar disk I49 is provided with a hub I50 fixed on the shaft I39. Mounted on the hub I48 is a collar portion I5I of an arm I52, which has a finger I53 thereon, said hub I48 acting as a bearing for the collar portion I5 I.

The disk-like member I41 is provided with an arcuate row of openings I54, in any one of which a securing element I55 is adapted to engage. It will be obvious that the arm I 52 can be adjusted relative to the disk-like member I41 by means of this series of openings I54 and the securing element I 55. The collar portion I56 of an arm I51 is mounted on the hub I50 of the disk-like member I49 in a. similar manner, and has a finger I53 provided thereon, the securing element I59 being adapted to engage in any one of the arcuate row of openings I60 to secure the arm I51 in adjusted position. The disk-like members rotate in the direction of the arrows shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Mounted on a suitable bracket I6I on the platform 35 is a stub shaft I62, and mounted on said stub shaft is a lever I63, which is fixed on the shaft I62, which shaft I62 has a cam I64 mounted thereon to rotate therewith. The cam I64 is engaged by the finger I53 to move said cam I64 to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the finger I58 engages a similar cam I65 mounted on the shaft I62 to rotate therewi h, to move the parts to the alternative position shown in Fig. 5. The lever I63 will thus be moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, by engagement of the finger I53 with the cam I64, and to the position shown in Fig. 5 by engagement of the finger I58 with the cam I65, the movements to the alternative positions having just been completed in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively. A link I66 extends from the lever I63 to a lever I61,

The lever I61 controls the position of the movable valve element I68 of a valve I69, said valve I69 having a compressed air inlet port I10 and an exhaust port "I, and chambers I12 and I13 therein leading to the pipes I14 and I15. The movable valve element I 68 comprises a hollow stem portion II that has openings I2 therein leading to an annular passage I3 that communicates with the exhaust port I1I through the passage I4, and which opens at its one end into valve element the hub portion I6 of the channeled arm I8 forming partof said movable valve member I90.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 4,

21, 22 and 23 the arm I8 overlies the opening I1 leading to the chamber I18 and thus connects the exhaust port I1I with the pipe I". The movable valve member also has wings, that engage the flat top face of the body portion of the valve I89 and which have openings I6 and I9 therein. In the position shown in said M- ures, the opening I8 aligns with an opening 6 in the valve body and the opening I8 aligns with an opening 9 therein. The opening 6 leads to the chamber I12 and the opening 9 leads to the inlet port I10, the movable valve element thus connecting the pipe I14 with the compressed air inlet port I10 through the chamber under the cap 20 of the valve I69, in the position shown in Figs. 4, 21, 22 and 23. When the movable I68 is moved to the position shown in Fig. the member I6 overlies the opening 8 and connects the exhaust port I" with the pipe I14. The opening I8 of the movable valve element will then overlie the opening 1 leading to the inlet port I and the opening I9 will overlie the opening I1 leading to the pipe I16, connecting the same with the inlet port I10. The compressed air supply pipe I16 leads to the inlet port I10 and the exhaust pipe 6 leads from the exhaust port I1I. In the position shown in Fig. 4 the compressed air pipe I16 is connected through the valve element I68, with the pipe I14, and the pipe I15 is connected with the exhaust pipe 6 through said valve element, while in the position shown in Fig. 5 the pipe I15 is connected with the compressed air supply pipe I16 through thevalve element I68, and the pipe I14 is connected with the exhaust port of said valve element I68.

The pipe I14 leads to one end of a compressed air cylinder I11 and the pipe I15 leads to the other end thereof. Mounted in the cylinder I11 is a piston I18 having a rod I19 leading through a packing gland I80 to a pair of ears II, with which a valve operating lever I82 is pivotally connected. (See Fig. 8.) In Fig. 8 the piston is shown in full lines in the position it will be in just before movement responsive to the position of the valve I69 shown in Figs. 4, 21, 22 and 23 begins, to the dotted position of the parts shown in Fig. 8. Pivot ears I83 connect the other end of the cylinder pivotally with a bracket I84 mounted on any suitable framework member.

While only one pair of disks I41 and I49 has been described, it will be obvious that four each of. such disks are shown, each controlling the operation of a valve operating cylinder I11. While four sets of disks I41 and I49 are shown, it is obvious that the number can be varied as might be found desirable, but the number must correspond to the number of chutes III and quenching devices II4 provided, and of course, there is one valve member I69 for each pair of disks M1 and I49, controlled in the same manner as described above, and compressed air supply pipes I16 and pipes I 14 and I15 leading to the cylinders I11 in a similar manner to that described above. A compressed air supply main I16 leads to the various pipes I18, as will be obvious.

The disk-like members I41 are mounted on the shafts 92, so that the finger I53 on each member I41 is spaced substantially 90 degrees from the fingers on 'the next adjacent disk-like member I41, so that the valve operating levers I61 will be successively moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, at substantially equal time intervalsas the shaft 92 rotates, and will be moved to the alternative positions by means of .the fingers I66 in a similar mannendue to the fact that the disks I49 are mounted so that the fingem on the adjacent disks 'will be spaced substantially 60 degrees apart. The openings I64 and the time interval between the two movements...

which will depend upon the positions of the arms I62 and I61, but inasmuch as the same period of quenching should be provided for all objects 93, that are being heat treated and passed from the heating chamber 12, the time interval between the opening and closing movements of the valve controlling mechanism should be the same for each set of disk-like members Ill and I49, at any one time that the apparatus is in operation.

The quenching apparatus II4 comprises a receptacle I that is provided with aconical wall, so that the same has a funnel-like shape, and, preferably, a short vertical wall portion I9I is provided at the top thereof, (see Figs. 18 and 20), and an outwardly directed flange I92 and an outer vertical wall I93 are provided, whereby an annular trough I94 is provided, that surrounds the receptacle I90 at its upper end. The vertical wall I93 acts as a guard to prevent escape of cooling liquid and an over-hanging flange I99 may be provided thereon to further guard against splashing of cooling liquid out of the same.

The quenching apparatus further comprises a lower body portion I96 that is hollow to provide a chamber within the same, and which is provided further with an upwardly extending tubular portion I91. The upwardly extending tubular portion I91, preferably, terminates in an annular, laterally, outwardly extending flange- I98, to which a similar flange I99 on the bottom end of. the funnel-like member is secured by means of any suitable securing elements 200, a liquid tight joint being provided by means of suitable packing material 20I between the flanges I98 and I99. A short cylindrical portion 202 is provided between the conical body portion I90 of the funnel-like receptacle and the flange I99. A suitable adapter member 203 is inserted in the cylindrical portion 202, fitting tightly therein so as to be fixed in position after being forced into place. Said adapter member 203 has a cylindrical passage 204 therein, which leads to a flaring passage 205, which has an inner conical face that has the same inclination as the inner face of the body portion I90 of the receptacle, and when the member 204 is in proper position the conical, or flaring, wall portion 209 forms a continuation of the conical, or flaring, wall portion of the main body portion of the receptacle I90.

The lower body portion I96 has a discharge opening 206, of large cross section, in one side thereof and a tubular inlet passage 201 leads 208. A valve member 209 is rotatably mounted within said body portion I96 and is adapted to assume the alternative positions shown in Figs. 18 and 20, to either close the discharge opening 206 or the opening leading from the inlet passage 201. The valve member 209 is moved from the closed position shown in Fig. 20 to the open position shown in Fig. 18, and vice versa, by means of the operating lever I82, which is shown in closing position in full lines and in valve opening position in dotted lines in Fig. 8.

The flange 208 is secured to a flange 2I0 on a conduit 2II by means of securing elements 2| 2, the joint being made liquid tight by suitable packing means 2I3. The conduit 2 branches, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 12 and 13, from a cooling liquid supply pipe, or manifold, 2, that extends from a pump 2I5, which is provided with an intake conduit 2I6 extending from a reservoir 2I1 for cooling liquid. The pump 2I5 is driven by any suitable means, such as the motor 2 I8.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 12 and 13 an inclined chute-like member 2I9 extends from the opening 206 for delivery of the objects passing through said opening 206 to a runway 220 leading to suitable storage means for the quenched heat treated elements 33, said chute-like member, preferably, having a plurality of perforations 22I in the bottom thereof for separating the cooling liquid 'from the quenched objects 33 that will roll down the same into the transverse runway 220, the liquid dropping into the reservoir 2I1. A liquid deflecting flange 222 for cooling liquid may also be provided to direct any liquid running off the lower end of the chute 2I9 into the reservoir 2I1.

The quenching apparatus shown in Fig. 18 is, generally, the same in construction as that shown in the other n 'ti es of the drawings, but is shown in conjunction with other operating means therefor, to control the position of the valve member 209, which will be described below. Instead of the pipe 2 leading from a manifold, it leads directly from the pump 2I5, which is driven by the motor 2I8 in the same manner as previously described, and which has the inlet conduit 2I6 extending from the reservoir 2I1. An operating lever I82 is provided, for operating the valve member 209, the position of which is controlled by the mechanism which will be described below. The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 18 is shown as being arranged to quench one ball at a time, instead of a group of balls, and is illustrated with a simple form of heating apparatus for the balls, a single quenching device being shown instead of a series of four thereof, as in the other figures of the drawings. The perforated chute 2I9 is mounted on a bracket 230, provided on the member I96, and empties the liquid through the perforations into the reservoir 2H and extends to the quenched object container 229, to discharge the quenched objects into the same.

From the annular sump, or trough, surrounding the funnel-like member I90 at the top thereof, in all the forms of the invention shown, a drain pipe 223 also extends to the reservoir 2| 1. A cold water supply pipe 224 and a steam supply pipe 225 lead into the reservoir 2| 1, said supply pipes being provided with thermostatically controlled valves 226 and 221, which are adapted to be adjusted to maintain the liquid 228 in the reservoir at a predetermined temperature, this temperature being adjustable by adjustment of the thermostatic means to such a temperature as may be found most desirable for quenching a particular object that is to be acted on by the quenching apparatus.

When the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 13 and in dotted lines in Fig. 8, the valve 209 is in the position shown in Fig. 18, and the quenching liquid that is pumped from the reservoir 2l1 by the pump 2I5 passes through the passage 201 into the chamber within the lower body portion I96 and through the somewhat restricted passage in the tubular portions I91 and 202 into the funnel-like receptacle I90. When the valve member 209 is first moved to this open position the chamber within the member I96 and the funnel-like member I are empty. However, the upward stream of liquid passing through the cylindrical passage 203 and from that into the flaring passage 205 and upwardly into the funnel-like receptacle I90 rapidly fills this receptacle until the liquid overflows the vertical flange, or wall, I9I, and enters the annular trough I94 surrounding the upper portion of the funnel-like member, whereupon it passes down through the drain pipe 223 back into the reservoir 2I1 to be recirculated. The apparatus is adjusted so that the funnel-like receptacle I90 is filled with cooling liquid when the objects 33 that are to be quenched, enter the same and an upwardly directed stream of cooling liquid engages these objects after these enter the body of water within the funnel-like receptacle I90 to stop the descent of said objects, to be quenched, at a point between the top and bottom of said funnel-like member, the position of said objects that are to be quenched being maintained until the position of the valve member is changed. The operation of the quenching receptacle and the structural details thereof are more fully described in my co-pending application Serial No. 329,661, flled April 15, 1940.

When the position of the valve member 209 is changed to the closed position shown in Fig. 20, then the upwardly flowing stream of liquid In the body of liquid in the funnel-like member I90 is interrupted and at the same time the opening 206 is opened widely, the inclined wall of the valve 209 guiding the object, or objects, that were being quenched, out through the opening 206 along with the liquid that was contained in the funnel-like member I90, depositing the quenched objects 33 in the runway 220 or the container 229, such as shown in Fig. 18, and draining the liquid into the reservoir 2I1. While the object, or objects, that are being quenched, are in position at substantially a constant level in the funnel-like receptacle I90, these are being rotated on their axes and otherwise moved about by the stream of liquid engaging the same and the liquid around the same is kept in such an agitated condition that no gas bubbles, or air bubbles, will accumulate on the surface of said objects. Also no scale will adhere to the same. When the valve 209 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 20 what little scale there may be in the receptacle I 90 is discharged through the opening 206 along with the liquid and the objects that have been quenched, and will pass into the reservoir 2" and settle to the bottom thereof.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, it is, of course, to be understood that the four sets of controlling devices.

including the four valves, I69, and four cylindersv I", are operated in synchronism with the trap doors I03, so that the'valve I 69 controlling. the operation of the cylinder I", which controls the supply of quenching liquid to the quenching receptacle I90 associated with any one given trap door I03 and chute III, will be operated to admit quenching liquid to the quenching receptacle I90 a long enough time before the balls, or other objects, to be quenched are discharged down that particular chute III, that the body of quenching liquid 228 will be established therein when the balls reach the funnel-shaped member I90 and an upwardly directed stream of quenching liquid will also be established in the body of quenching liquid.

It will be obvious that the disk-like members I" can be so mounted on the shaft 92, and the arms I52 of the respective disk-like members I" can be so adjusted relative to these disklike members that the valves controlling supply of quenching liquid to the various quenching receptacles I90 will be opened substantially onefourth of a revolution of the shafts 92 from each other and in the proper timed relation to the operation of the trap doors I03 to release the elements 33, to be quenched; in a manner to establish the condition of the body of liquid and upwardly directed stream of liquid in each receptacle I90 at the proper time. The shaft I39 functions similarly in conjunction with the disks I49 and arms I51 to close the various valves 209 associated with the various receptacles 190,

to determinethe desired quenching period for the objects that are being quenched and to discharge the quenching liquid and thequenched objects at the proper time subsequent to their deposit in the quenching receptacle, to obtain the proper quenching of each of said objects, these operations being, of course, timed so as to get the same quenching period for the objects that are being quenched in each of the receptacles I9 during any particular period of operation of the machine acting on any particular type or kind of object that is being quenched.

It is, of course, obvious that the operation of the valve members 209 is controlled positively by the conveying means for carrying the objects that are being heated prior to quenching, through the heating chamber, and that the releasing mean-s for these objects is also controlled positively by this same conveying means that carries the objects through the heating chamber, so that the proper succession of operations will take place in such order for each quenching receptacle, that first the quenching liquid will be introduced into the chamber, then the three objects to be quenched from three of the conveyor chain-s will be discharged by a trap door I03 down a chute III into that receptacle, and the trap door willthenreturn to its position to prevent other such objects passing down said chute, and subsequently thereto the valve controlling the liquid supply to the quenching receptacle will be moved to a position to cut off this supply and the quenching liquid and quenched objects dis-charged. By varying the speed of the conveying means and the adjustment of the door releasing means, means for introducing the quenching liquid and means for discharging it, it is obvious that the heating period and quenching period can be regulated as desired. By means of the thermostatic controlling means the quenching temperature of the quenching liquid.

can be controlled, and by well known controlling means the temperature in the heating chamber can be. controlled, so that the heat treatment can be controlled as desired for the particular composition and characteristics of the material of which the element to bequenched is made, to obtain a product having the desired hardness, grain structure and other characteristics, that it is desired to obtain therefor. For any heat of metal, it will be obvious that a practically. uniform product can be obtained by the apparatus described, as the conditions can be kept absolutely uniform for all the objects that are heat treated,

. Instead of utilizing the mechanically operated controlling mean-s shown in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, the electrically operated controlling means shown in Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive, can be used, the re-heating means and the means for supplying the objects to be heated being the same as in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive. Only the discharge end of the conveying means and corresponding end of the heating chamber are shown in these figures of the drawings,. and the same reference numerals are applied to the parts that remain the same in Figs. 12 to 1-6, as to the corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 11.

The downwardly extending portions 11 of the guide members I5 discharge into the pockets provided for reception of the heated articles, which have the trap doors I03 controlling discharge from a group thereof, in the same manner as has been previously described. The chutes III extend from and are related in the same manner to the trap doors I03, as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, and these each discharge into a quenching device 4, which is'the same as shown in connection with Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, being provided with, a valve similar to that previously described, which is operated by means of a valve lever, or arm, I82, the alternative positions of the arm I82 shown in Figs. 18 and 20 controlling the flow of quenching liquid into and discharge of quenching liquid from the quenching means I I4, in the same manner as disclosed in Figs. 18 and 20, but the operating means for determining the alternative positions of the arms I82 being different in Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive.

The conveyor means comprising the sprocket chains having the links 63 and 64, are driven by the motor 85 through the sprocket chain 90, operating over the sprockets 89 and 9I and through the pinion 93 and gear 95, in a similar manner to that previously described. However, the sprocket 9I is mounted on a stub shaft 23l, instead of on the shaft 92, which also has the pinion 93 mounted thereon to rotate with said shaft 23I. The driving shaft for the conveyor, which is mounted on the bearings 83, as before described in connection with Figs. 1 to 11, has an extension 232 thereon, which is mounted in a bearing 233 on a bracket 233, mounted on the platform 35 by means of a base member 233.

Fixed on the shaft 232 is a large gear 23%, which meshes with a pair of smaller gears 233 and 238, which are mounted in suitable bearings 239, similarly mounted on the base 235 to the bearing 233. The gears are so proportioned that each time that the drum 8I advances the distance between two sprocket teeth of the same series, each of the gears 23l and 238 will make one com.-' plete revolution. Mounted to rotate with the gear 231 is a disk-like member 240, and mounted to rotate with the gear 230 is a disk-like member 24I. Said disk-like members 240 and 24I are similar in construction and cooperate with certain stationary contact means in a similar manner. Mounted to rotate with each of the disklike members 240 and MI is a collector ring 242, said collector ring being, however, insulated from the main body portion of the member 240. Extending from each of the collector rings is a bracket 243, which is-provided with a spring projected brush 244, which engages with the stationary contact members to be described below. A stationary spring projected brush 245 is mounted on the base 235 so as to be insulated therefrom, and has a conductor 246 extending from said brush to a suitable source of electric current.

Mounted on suitable upstanding bracket members 241 on the base 235 is a ring-like member 248 of insulating material. Said ring-like member is provided with four sets of parallel slots 249, each of which has an adjustable contact 250 mounted therein, three such adjustable contacts and three such slots being shown in each set in the drawings. It will be obvious that by means of the slots and the threaded stems 25I provided on the contact members 250, said contact members may be adjusted to any desired position along said slots and clamped into position by the nuts 252, so that these contacts can either be arranged in transverse alignment or in an overlapping relationship, such as shown in Figs. and 17, the amount of overlap being determined by the adjustment thereof. It will be obvious that inasmuch as the contact member 244 is of such width that it is adapted to engage all of the contacts of a group 250 when coming into alignment therewith, the length of time that the contact 244 engages the group of contacts 250 of any one set will be determined by their relative position, and the beginning of such contact and ending thereof can also be controlled by the adjustment of said members 250. A conductor 253 leads from each set of contacts to one of the torque motors -2 54, branch conductors 255 being connected with the various contacts 250 of each group, by means of the nuts 252. Generally, the torque motor utilized may be described as a motor of such a character that when electrical energy is supplied thereto it will exert a torque on a shaft such as to rotate the same to a limited extent and hold the same at its limit of rotation as long as the electrical energy is supplied to the motor to exert the necessary torque on the shaft.

Each of the motors 254 is provided with a pinion 256, which meshes with a segment 251 mounted on a pivot 258, and which has a lever 259 extending from the opposite side of the pivot from the segment 251, which is pivoted to an operating rod 260, controlling the operation of a trap door I03. Thus, while any one of the motors 254 is energized, the torque exerted thereby will hold the segment 251 and the lever 259 in the position shown in Fig. 13 and the trap door I03 in closed position. Upon breaking the circuit, the torque exerted by the motor will cease to function and the weight of the parts will cause the trap door I03 to drop to releasing position and the segment 251 to move to the alternative position to that shown in Fig, 13. The adjustment of the contacts 250 is so made that the door I03, for any set of three conveyor chains in the heating chamber 12, will be raised to holding position, as shown in Fig. 13, a suificient interval associated with said trap door I03, that none of the objects that are to be quenched will pass the door I03 until the circuit to the motor has been 'broken, it being, of course, understood that the tacts 250 of the set connected with said motor,

before the balls 33 can leave the three conveyors and, of course, the motors will be operated to hold the trap doors I 03 in raised position successively at substantially equal intervals. It will also be obvious that by adjustment of the contacts, the exact time of movement of the trap doors I03, associated with any set of the conveying chains, can be controlled so that the same will be in proper position for receiving and discharging the objects that are to be quenched, at the proper time for collecting the desired number thereof and discharging these simultaneously into the quenching device II4, three at a time being the number discharged in the form of apparatus disclosed.

The disk-like member MI is provided with a similar contact, engaging with contacts carried by an insulating ring 248, in all respects similar to the insulating ring 248, from which conductors 26I extend to the motors 262, which are torque motors, similar to the torque motors 254, and which have pinions 263 mounted on the shafts thereof that mesh with segments 264 mounted on pivots 265, and having levers 266 extending therefrom in a direction opposite to the segments 264 from the pivot 265, with which operating rods 261 are pivotally connected, said operating rods being also pivotally connected with the valve lever I82, provided on each of the valve members, such as previously described, provided on the quenching device I44, associated with the particular motor 262. The' lever I82 is extended in a difierent direction in Fig. 13 than in the forms of the invention previously described, in order that the rod 261 can move the same upwardly and downwardly between the full line position and the dotted line position shown in Fig. 13.

It will be obvious that the contacts can be adjusted suitably to supply electrical energy to the motors 262 for an interval of time desired, and beginning at a desired time and ending at a desired time relative to the time 0' operation of the trap door I03 that controls supply of objects to be quenched to the quenching device I I4, with which any particular motor 262 is associated. When th parts are in the full line poistion shown in Fig. 13, the motor is energized and the torque exerted thereby moves the segment to the position shown in Fig. 13, opening the valve controlled by the valve lever I82, and supplying the quenching liquid to the quenching device I I4 in the same manner as previously described. The valve will be held open until the motor 262 controlling said valve is deenergized, whereupon the lever I82 will move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 13, the valve will close and the articles that have been quenched will be discharged along the chute 2| 9 in the manner previously described, the means for circulating the water, or other liquid, for quenching the articles being the same as previously described, and having the same reference numerals applied thereto. An adjustable counter-weight 268 is provided on each lever 266 to assure movement of the lever 182' to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 13.

Instead of the means described above, provided for periodically operating the valve 289 to move the same between the alternative positions described, and maintaining the samefor desired periods of time in such positions, the means for controlling the position of such valve shown in Figs. 18 and 19 may be provided. The means for controlling the position of said valve and thus the quenching period, shown in Figs. 18 and 19, preferably, is operated by the objects that are on their way to th quenching apparatus, so as to start the flow of the upward stream of liquid sufflciently before such an object to be quenched enters the body of liquid in the funnel-like member 198, that said funnel-like member will be substantially filled and the upwardly directed stream of shaft 291, on which the cam member 288 is mounted so as to rotate therewith. Thus whenever the clutch members 298 and 296 are engaged,

liquid in the body of liquid in the member 198 will be established to engage the object that is to be quenched and hold it in a desired position within said funnel-like member.

The means for starting the flow of liquid comprises a finger 218, which is pivotally mounted in any suitable manner; on the chute 111' at 211, and which is provided with spring means 212 tending to hold the same in the position shown. When one of the objects 33 leaving the conveyor 213 drops into the chute 111' and engages the finger 218, it will move the contact member 214 carried thereby into engagement with the stationary contact 215, the contact 214 being adjustable in an obvious manner, so as to obtain the engagement of said contact 214 with the contact 215, as the object 33 moves the member 218 upwardly during its passage along the chute under said member 218. A conductor 216 is connected with the contact 214 and a conductor 211 isconnected with the contact 215, said conductor 211 xtending from a suitable source of electric'current. A

conductor 218 also extends from this same source and is connected with one end of the winding 219 of an electro-magnet, with the other end of which winding the conductor 216 is connected.

Thus, if the contact 215 is engaged by the movable contact 214, the winding 219 will be energized and will attract the armature 288, which is pivotally mounted on a suitable support at 281, and is urged in the opposite direction to that in which the winding 219 tends to move the same, by means of a spring 282. The electro-magnet and armature constitute, in effect, a relay having a contact 284 that engages the contact 283 when the armature 288 is attracted by the electro-magnet. The contact 283 is connected with the conductor 218 by any suitable conductor 285, and a conductor 285 extends from the contact 284 to one end of a solenoid winding 281, which is connected with the conductor 288 leading to the conductor 888 at its other end connected with the conductor 211. Thus, when the contacts 283 and 288 are in engagement the solenoid 281 will be enterized.

A motor 298 is, preferably, provided, that is connected with the conductors 211 and 218 by conductors 289 and 29 I, a switch 292 being interposed in the conductor 291 to control the operation of the motor 298, the switch 292 being of a manually operated type. The motor 298 drives an adjustable reduction gearing 293, and the adjustable reduction gearing drives a reduction gearing 288 of fixed ratio, which in turn drives the shaft upon which an axially shiftable clutch member 288 is mounted to rotate therewith as a unit. The shift able clutch member 295 is adapted to engage with.

engagement.

the shaft 291 will rotate, and the rate at which it rotates, or the time in which it completes a revolution, or a predetermined definite part of a revolution, is dependent upon th adjustment of the adjustable speed reduction'means 283.

Any suitable means may be provided for engaging the clutch member upon engagement of one of the objects 33 with the finger 218, the mean shown comprising the solenoid 281, which is provided with a plunger 299, which is connected with a lever 388 by means of a link 381. The lever 388 is a clutch shifting lever and is provided with a yoke 382 that engages in a suitable groove in the clutch member 295 for shifting the same lengthwise of the shaft upon whichthe same is mounted, the lever being pivoted to any suitable frame member at 383 and having means tending to move the same to clutch disengaging position, such as a spring 384, which is secured to an extension 385 on saidlever 3.88 and to any suitable securing means on a fixed frame member, such as the bracket 384'.

A illustrated, the clutch members will only be held in engagement as long a electrical energy is supplied to the solenoid having the winding 281 and this requires that the contacts 283 and 284 be kept in engagement for as long a period as it is desired to'keep the clutch members in This is accomplished by providing apivoted latch 388, which engages the armature 288 to hold it in the position shown in Fig. 19 after it has been attracted by the e1ectr0-magnet, said latch being provided with spring means 381 holding it in latching position.

The lever 182 is connected with a bell-crank lever 388, by means of a link 388, said bell-crank being pivoted at 318 on the frame 311 and having a roller 312 that operates in a cam slot, or groove, 313 in the cam member 298. Rotation of the cam member in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 18 will move the lever 388 to the position shown in Fig. 18 and will maintain the lever in this position until the .cam 298 has made almost an entire revolution with the shaft 291. As soon as the roller 312 enters the outwardly inclined portion 318 of the cam slot 313, however, the lever 388 will be moved to the left and this movement will continue until the outermost portion 318 of this cam slot is reached, at which time the valve 288 will have reached its closed position, or that shown in Fig. 28. This position of the valve 888 will be maintained until the roller 818 enters the inwardly inclined portion N8 of the cam slot, whereupon the valve 289 will again be moved to the position shown in Fig. 18, reaching that position as soon as the inher curved portion of the slot M3 is reached by the roller Means is provided for halting the movement of the shaft as the outer curved portion. 315 of the cam slot is reached by the roller 318, said means comprising a cam formation 311 provided on the periphery of the cam member 298, the inclined cam face of which engages an inclined face 388 on a switch operating lever 318, on which is mounted a contact 328 that cooperates with an adjustable stationary contact member 32H it conductor 888 extends from the conductor 289 to the contact 888, and a conductor 323 extends from the contact 888 to the winding 328 of an electro-magnet, said conductorttt being connected with one end of the winding of said electro-magnet, and a conductor 325 extending from the other end of said winding to the conductor 213.

It will be obvious that when the contacts 320 and 32! are in engagement, the winding 324 of the electrc-magnet will be energized and the latch 306, which constitutes an armature of said electro-magnet having said winding 324, will be attracted so as to disengage said latch from the armature 280, causing the same to be retracted to disengage the contact 284 from the contact 283. When the contact 284 disengages the contact 283 the spring 304 will move the lever 300 to disengage the clutch member 295 from the clutch member 296, halting the rotation of the shaft 291 and the cam 298. However, due to the lost motion in the various parts of the apparatus, the inclined face 3H3 will have dropped off the cam face 3|! when this occurs, and the parts will be in a position to start the entire cycle of operations over again when a ball, or other object, 33 engages the member 210 to cause engagement of the contact 214 with the contact 215.

It will be obvious that the speed at which the shaft 296 rotates determines the length of time that the valve 209 remains in the position shown in Fig. 18, and that the length of time that each object 33 is being'quenched will depend upon the adjustment of the said adjustable speed reducing apparatus 293, and that as long as the speed reducing apparatus 293 i maintained in a certain adjustment, all of said objects 33 will be subjected to the quenching action for the same length of time, and, of course, to a quenching liquid of a definite temperature due to the provision of the control for the temperature of the liquid 228 in the reservoir 2ll. The chute III, of course, extend from a heating chamber 12', similar to the chamber 12 previously discussed.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with heating means, of means for discharging heated metal objects from said heating means at intervals, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle, means for passing the discharged objects into said receptacle, means for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle in a manner to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid therein, and

means for controlling the supply of said liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid thereto for predetermined time intervals in synchronism with the passage of said objects into said receptacle.

2. The combination with heating means, of mean for discharging heated metal objects from said heating means at intervals, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle open at the top and bottom. thereof, means for passing the discharged objects from said heating means into said receptacle at the top thereof, means for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle through said open bottom to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid sufficient to hold said objects suspended in said liquid in said receptacle, means periodically actuated in timed relation to the discharge of said objects from aid heating means for controlling the supply of liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid for time intervals of predetermined length commencing a predetermined time prior to the passage of said objects into said receptacle, and means for discharging the contents of said receptacle-through said bottom at the end of each such time interval.

3. The combination with heating means, of means for discharging heated metal objects from said heating means at intervals, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle open at the top and bottom thereof, means for passing the discharged objects from said heating means into said receptacle at the top thereof, means for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle through said open bottom to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid sufficient to hold said objects suspended in said liquid in said receptacle, means periodically actuated in timed relation to the discharge of said objects from said heating means for controlling the supply of liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid for time intervals of predetermined length commencing a predetermined time prior to the passage of said objects into said receptacle, means for adjusting the length of said time interval, and means for discharging the contents of said receptacle through said bottom at the end of each such ime interval.

4. The combination with heating means, of means for discharging heated metal objects from said heating means at intervals cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle, means for passing the discharged objects into said receptacle, means for supplying coolin liquid to said receptacle in a manner to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid therein, and object operated adjustable means for controlling the supply of said liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid thereto for predetermined time intervals in synchronism with the passage of said objects into said receptacle.

5. The combination with heating means, of means for conveying metal objects through said heating means, and discharging said objects from said heating means at'intervals after the same are heated, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle, means for passing the discharged objects into said receptacle, means for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle in a manner to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid therein, and means actuated by said conveying means for controlling the supply of said liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid thereto for predetermined time intervals in synchronism with the passage of said objects into said receptacle.

6. The combination with heating means, of means for conveying metal objects through said heating means and discharging said objects from said heating means at intervals after the same are heated, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle open at the top and bottom thereof, means for passing the discharged objects into said receptacle at the top thereof, means for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle through said open bottom to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid sufficient to hold said objects suspended in said liquid in said receptacle, means actuated by said conveying means for controlling the supply of liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid for time intervals of predetermined length commencing a predetermined time prior to the passage of said objects into said receptacle, and means for discharging the contents of said receptacle through said bottom at the end of each such time interval.

7. The combination with heating means, of means for conveying metal objects through said heating means and discharging said objects from said heating means at intervals after the same a are heated, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle open at the top and bottom thereof, means for passing the discharged objects into said receptacle at the top thereof, means 'for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle through said open bottom to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid sufiicient to hold said objects suspended in said liquid in said receptacle, means for controlling the supply of liquid to said receptacle ,to periodically supply said liquid for time intervals of predetermined length commencing a predetermined time prior to the passage of said objects into said receptacle, and means for discharging the contents of said receptacle through said bottom at the end of each such time interval, comprising means actuated by said conveying means for initiating how of liquid into said receptacle and means actuated by said conveying means for stopping flow of said liquid into said receptacle and opening said receptacle to a discharge passage.

8, The combination with heating means, of means for conveying metal objects through said heating means and discharging said objects from said heating means at intervals after the same are heated, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle open at the top and bottom thereof, means for passing the discharged ob jects into said receptacle at the top thereof, means for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle through said open bottom to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid sufficient to hold said objects suspended in said liquid in said receptacle, means for controlling the supply of liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid for time intervals of predetermined length commencing a predetermined time prior to the passage of said objects into said receptacle, and means for discharging the contents of said receptacle through said bottom at the end of each such time interval, comprising adjustable means actuated by said conveying means for initiating flow of liquid into said receptacle and adjustable means actuated by said conveying means for stopping flow of said liquid into said receptacle and opening said receptacle to a discharge passage.

9. The combination with heating means, of means for conveying metal objects through said heating means and discharging said objects from said heating means at intervals after the same are heated, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle open at the top and bottom thereof, means actuated by said conveying means for passing the discharged objects into said receptacle at the top thereof, means for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle through said open bottom to create an upwardly directed current of saidliquid suflicient to hold said objects suspended in said liquid in said receptacle, means for controlling the supply of liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid for time intervals of predetermined length commencing a predetermined time prior to the passage of said objects into said receptacle, and mean for discharging the contents of said receptacle through said bottom at the end of each such time interval, comprising means actuated by said conveying means for initiatingflow of liquid intosaid receptacle and means actuated by said conveying means for stopping flow of said liquid into said receptacle and opening said receptacle to a discharge passage.

10. The combination with heating means, of

means for conveying metal objects through said heating means and discharging said objects from said heating means at intervals after the same are heated, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle open at the top and bottom thereof, means actuated by said conveying means in synchronism therewith for passing the discharged objects into said receptacle at the top thereof, means for adjusting the means for passing said objects into said receptacle relative to said conveying means, means for supplying cooling liquid' to said receptacle through said open bottom to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid suiilcient to hold said objects suspended in said liquid in said receptacle, means for controlling the supply of liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said liquid for time intervals of predetermined length commencing a predetermined time prior to the passage of said objects into said receptacle, and means for discharging the contents of said receptacle through said bottom at the end of each such time interval, comprising means actuated by said conveying means for initiating flow of liquid into said receptacle and'means actuated by said conveying means for stopping flow of said liquid into said receptacle and opening said receptacle to a discharge passage, said means for initiating flow of liquid and said means for stopping flow of liquid and opening said receptacle to said discharge passage being adjustable relative to said conveying means.

11. The combination with heating means, of means for conveying metal objects through said heating means and discharging said objects from said heating means at intervals after the same i odically releasing said discharged objects, actuat-- ing means for said releasing means operated by said conveying means, means for initiating the flow of liquid into said receptacle, actuating means therefor operated by said conveying means, means for stopping flow of liquid into said receptacle and discharging the contents thereof, actuating means therefor operated by said conveying means, and means for adjusting all said actuating means relative to each other.

12. The combination with heating means, of

means for conveying metal objects through said heating means and discharging said objects from said heating means at intervals, after the same are heated, cooling means for said objects, comprising a receptacle, means for passing the discharged objects into said receptacle by gravity, means for supplying cooling liquid to said receptacle in a manner to create an upwardly directed current of said liquid therein, and adjustable means for controlling the supply of said liquid to said receptacle to periodically supply said,

liquid thereto for predetermined time intervals in timed relation to the passage of said objects into said receptacle, comprising means for initiating the flow of liquid into said receptacle, actuating means therefor operated by said conveying means, means for stopping flow of liquid into said receptacle and discharging the contents thereof, actuating means therefor operated by said conveying means, and means for adjusting said actuating means relative to each other.

13. A quenching apparatus comprising a receptacle, means for supplying heated metallic objects and cooling liquid to said receptacle, said cooling liquid being fed upwardly from the bottom of said receptacle into a body of liquid in said receptacle at a rate to maintain said objects suspended in said liquid out of continued contact with the walls of said receptacle and to thoroughly agitate said liquid to create a turbulent condition in said body of liquid adjacent said objects while so suspended, and said heated objects being fed at intervals into the top of said body of liquid by gravity, means operating in synchronism with the means for supplying the heated objects to said receptacle for controlling flow 01 said liquid to supply said liquid to said receptacle for a time interval extending from sufiiciently prior to entry of one of said heated objects into said receptacle to fill said receptacle with liquid by the time said object enters the same to a predetermined time after said object enters said receptacle, and means for discharging said liquid and said objects through the bottom of said receptacle upon interruption of the liquid supply thereto.

14. A quenching apparatus comprising an upper funnel-shaped open topped chamber, a lower chamber, a restricted passage leading from said lower chamber into the bottom of said funnelshaped chamber, a liquid inlet into said lower chambena combined article discharge and drain opening in said lower chamber, means for periodically feeding heated objects into said receptacle and means operating in synchronized rela tion to said feeding means movable in opposite directions-for alternately opening said liquid inlet and closing said opening, and closing said liquid inlet and opening said drain opening, comprising separate actuating means to move said movable means in each direction, and means for adjusting said actuating means relative to each other.

15. A quenching apparatus comprising an upper funnel-shaped open topped chamber, a lower chamber, a restricted passage leading from said lower chamber into the bottom of said funnel- 4 shaped chamber, a liquid inlet into said lower chamber, a combined article discharge and drain opening in said lower chamber, means movable in opposite directions for alternately opening said liquid inlet and closing said opening and closing said inlet and opening said opening, article and liquid separating means receiving the discharge from said opening, means for periodically feeding heated objects into said receptacle and means operating in synchronized relation to said feeding means for controlling the operation of said movable means to vary the time interval between inlet opening and closing movements of said means.

16. The combination with a heating chamber, of means for conveying metal objects substantially horizontally through said heating chamber, means for discharging said objects from said conveying means by gravity, quenching means for said objects comprising a quenching receptacle, means for supplying cooling liquid to said quenching receptacle, means cOntrOlling the passage or objects discharged from said conveying means to said receptacle and means operating in synchronism with said controlling means for controlling the means for supplying said liquid.

17. The combination with a heating chamber, of means for conveying metal objects substantially horizontally through said heating chamber, comprising a plurality of guides extending lengthwise of said chamber, chains having means for pushing said objects along said guides at a uniform speed in predetermined spaced relation, means for discharging said objects from said conveying means by gravity, quenching means for said objects comprising a quenching receptacle, means for supplying cooling liquid to said quenching receptacle, means controlling the passage of objects discharged from said conveying means to said receptacle and means operating in synchronism with said controlling means for controlling the means for supplying said liquid.

18. The combination with a heating chamber, of means for conveying metal objects substantially horizontally through said heating chamber, comprising a plurality of guides extending lengthwise of said chamber, conveyors having pusher members thereon at regularly spaced intervals operating between said guides, means actuated by said conveyors for feeding said objects to each of said conveyors one at a time, means for receiving. said objects from said guides, quenching means, means operated in sychronism with said conveyors for discharging said objects from said receiving means at regular intervals into said quenching means, and means for pcriodically operating said quenching means in timed relation to the discharge of said objects from said receiving means, including means for discharging said objects from said quenching means in timed relation to the discharge thereof into said quenching means.

19. The combination with a'heating chamber, of means for conveying metal objects substantially horizontally through said heating chamber, comprising a plurality of guides extending lengthwise of said chamber, conveyors having pusher members thereon at regularly spaced intervals operating between said guides, means actuated by said conveyors for feeding said objects to each of said conveyors one at a time, means for receiving said objects from said guides, said guides having dowinwardly inclined portions extending from the ends of said conveyors to said receiving means, quenching means, means operated in synchronism with said conveyors for discharging said objects from said receiving means at regular intervals into said quenching means, and means for periodically operating said quenching means in timed relation to the discharge of said objects from said receiving means, including means for discharging said objects from said quenching means in timed relation to the discharge thereof into said quenching means.

20. The combination with a heating chamber, of means for conveying metal objects at a sub stantially uniform rate through said heating chamber, means for discharging said objects from said conveying means, quenching means for said objects comprising a quenching receptacle, means for supplying cooling liquid to said quenching receptacle, means controlling the passage of objects discharged from said conveying means to said receptacle and means operating in synchronism with said controlling means for controlling the means for supplying said liquid.

21. The combination with a heating chamber, of means for conveying metal objects at a substantially uniform rate through said heat- 

